Bella's arrival

Here she is, front, back and side, in all her (non) pristine glory. She's seen a few bumps like her new owner, but she purrs like a kitten and runs like a deer. I am still in a little state of shock as it's a while since I have had a European car, let alone a sports car. So I'm still settling in to the reality, not the dream. But then all life's a dream, isn't it?

The delivery was this morning where I met Chris the Kiwi boyfriend, a very nice ginger haired young man, who proudly  showed men his Aussie 'Heavy Vehicle Driver's' licence. It is still a mark of achievement to have worked a while in Oz. I took some shots around 'Bella', her new name which suites her just fine. Lucy was delighted to have the car off her hands, and into my very willing hands. It took me ten minutes to find out how to lower the windows, but that done,  I feel very, very good. 

I am now in downtown Newtown having a celebratory cup of coffee and am about to do my market shopping for the weekend. Next week I will do the final transfer paper work as I am already insured and all is good.

Side....

Back and front...

At quintessential Newtown's Cafe Baobab, with the very apposite African texting his girlfriend ( he has 'Obey' printed on his T shirt)

Stunned BMW owner, me, having a much needed cafe fix...

Floriditas

Scopa is for hot chocolate as Floridita's is for tea, in this case Japanese and lime, which I am drinking here, accompanied by a beautiful cocoanut meringue and lime tart - complementary and delicious.

It is time to look over the happeninigs of a very long, and productive, in many ways, week. To get straight to the point, I have just emerged from a discussion with Jamie from Ellmers Motor Mowers, where I surrendered my scooter the other day. I wanted to give him my helmet also as it would be my last time using it. We had a nice chat about Karma, he appears to be a born-again Christian, and he invited me for a beer to discuss things. However on replying that I didn't drink, that invitation was somewhat rescinded. His wife also doesn't drink,  he proffered, but he likes one obviously. Anyway he went on to give me the bad news of offering me a tiny return on my scooter, which, of course, I suppose I had expected. I told him I would ring back on Tuesday with my decision, but we both knew it would be a Yes. Scooter chapter - finito!

But back to more momentous subjects, the new Beamer. No delivery today, as Indian Bho was too busy, but Tuesday should be fine. I must remember to source a BMW car cover asap, as the salt air of Evans Bay is not at all propitious to keeping a pristine Beamer. I quickly email Lucy telling her I have transferred her $1k as a deposit, the remainder coming on Tuesday after inspection.

Anyway, Bho was very nice and assured me he would look over the Beamer as long as it came in early on Tuesday, so I have alerted Lucy and friend to this new timing. Now for a Beamer-free weekend ...of movies, and cooking, as I am entertaining to lunch Elanita and hubby Lucas, on Monday, a long promised invitation. So I bought some fresh fish from the Cuba Fish shop and now am having a nice cuppa and cake at Floridita's. It is another Cuba Street delight and one day I will dine here.

My earlier little conversation with Jamie had to happen, as I knew my motor Karma would be involved in this final pay-off. And it is with a smile and resignation that I wipe my slate clean and start again when I take my next motor car on Tuesday, this time to be Karma free.

It will also be a weekend of movies as the the Queer Festival, for me, starts tonight. I'll keep you posted, but last night's 'Ida' was an absolute delight. Filmed in black and white, it's about a postulant nun discovering she had been a stolen Jewish baby, and who decides to give life one chance before returning to her cloistered vows of celibacy. But one was left wondering whether she might be bringing a babe into this convent life inadvertently as a result of one night of love with a talented saxophonist. The film was Polish, sad, and very evocative, and a great reminder of the torture endured by so many Jews during the second world war, and the total displacement of Poland, first under the Germans, and then under the Russians.  It was a lovely movie to go home on. Tonight's will be totally different I can assure you, about a male GoGo dancer and a nerdy male admirer on the internet. What did I tell you!

Lovely serving at Floridita's... 

Fireman Kiwi hero but result of bad health and safety... 

Efficient service in lovely cafe...

Delicious tart!

Before I leave Floridita's I visit their unisex toilets, all very artistically presented and commodious. Speaking with one of the lovely waitresses and smelling a strong scent of garlic on the way back, I discover they do a delicious linguine with clams and garlic, which is for my next visit I immediately decide. I also wonder if I'll come here one day with someone, or continue on my solitary cafe adventure, dining always alone?

A day later...

'Has the euphoria worn off, or has it actually settled into reality? 

Well half and half, as I have made an excellent mechanic contact who will check it over for me at a good price, also be its service provider on delivery. Wellington is solid like that. There are many European car snobs like me, hahaha, so there are also a few mechanics who specialise in them without charging European prices, like my new mechanic called Beau, from Page European. See already I like his name and now I only need to get Lucy to take the car there for a check over, and that may be difficult, but if she wants the money, which is waiting in my bank, she will have to have the check.

So here am I, sipping my favourite hot chocolate at Scopa, recording the progress of the sale. Of course this comes at the same time as my finding a housemate, so there are some major changes afoot in my life, and interestingly on the eve of my 69th birthday. They say be careful what you ask for, and I certainly asked for some action in my life, and it is happening just like that.

Scopa is interesting as always, the man next to me turns out to be a woman, and the boy opposite, a young Kiwi, is practising his excellent Spanish with his South American girl friend. He is quite good too, much better than me! 

The other thing happening at the moment, in these  busy days, is the Queer Film Festival which is shaping up to be fantastic with many excellent South American movies on show. It starts tomorrow with an American movie about finding love on the Internet, quite fitting for today's audiences. The gala opening is tonight, which I will not attend, a twinky movie which is not to my taste. The  other one set in NYC will at least be in familiar surrounds and is an interesting subject.

The man who is a woman..

A rear view...

A fattening hot chocolate, my only indulgence.

The Kiwi speaking Spanish with waiter.

The girls enjoying Scopa

Going into 'The Trip to Italy', with wine tasting.

Coming out of 'Grace of Monaco', excruciating.

Just to finish a very busy day, (the weather has been awful),I am rewarding myself with a Cuba Lighthouse movie, 'Ida', which has a great review. More later.

After Scopa and the hot chocolate, it was time for the Peer Support group, which I find quite fascinating, especiallynow we have a farmer/trans gender in our little circle. Again it was  good, more post-mortems about the Memorial Service, some saying my speech was great, one saying it was too long. You just can't please everyone, but luckily for me he said this as I was about  to invite him for lunch. He is now permanently off my list. No waste of time there. My confidence in others is often destroyed and my nature of ingenuousness continues to exist, in spite of the world being as it is. But I have no regrets, it's how I am, and I am slowly learning  that few people appreciate my obvious simple nature. Or know it. It is, however, a family trait and will stay with me all my life.

Many at the group were excitedly going to the Gala Opening of the Queer Festival, and a free ticket was being offered. Naturally it was taken by my 'critical friend'. So much for him. I am happy to be with real cinema lovers at Cuba. Opening nights attract a certain sort of people, and I am over first nights. I can say this because in a former life I used to go to the opening of an envelope!

Oh, by the way, good news re BMW, the  b.f. Chris is taking it tomorrow for the much needed check over.  The force is with me. I may even take delivery on Saturday.

The BMW

I should start this blog with 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds', as  I am on my way to meet Lucy Liu, not the famous actress on world screens, but a local lassie, who has a car for sale which I may like. She is in Hobson Street right next to the Australian Mission to NZ, which may, or may not, be an omen.

In any case it is a BMW Sports car and not for the faint hearted, that I am about to caress, and hopefully drive. The idea is very attractive, especially as I have given up all expectations of living cheaply in wonderful Wellington. I just need a car for weekends and rainy windy days, and there are a few of those in Wellington.

My adventure with Dmitri from yesterday is still fresh. His car is still very nice, but perhaps it is time to move on from small economical Japanese cars and head for the top end, where I always have been very comfortable in the past. Lucy is asking a nice price, but may even negotiate if we get on well and she really wants to sell her baby. I always have the Suzuki to go back to, so it gives me some lee-wayto  negotiate. 

As I am a little early for the 4 pm rendezvous, I have discovered yet another cafe, this time in the Archives Building which houses the actual Treaty of Waitangi, a bit of a farce these days, but I will come back another day to view it. Also the National Library is around the corner so there is lots to see at this end. Noted for the near future, but today's priority is car hunting. The weather, always a factor in Wellington, is cool and windy, but not raining so I am in good spirits. After the trial run I am off to HU and Scottish Dance, so it is another filled day in this charming city. A decision to buy would be a great bonus and it would be lovely to have wheels for the coming Queen's Birthday long weekend, as everything is cancelled for Monday.

I popped in to BP today to suggest to Ron that next year's Memorial we should have Justice Michael Kirby  as guest speaker. And I would do the liaising and try to get him. We need to start now as he is very busy and possibly already booked out for next year. But it may happen and I would love him to   come. It would of great benefit to the Kiwis and he would have a great time too. So that's  another thing I have to start planning. So much to do,  and the Queer Film Festival starts next week, OMG!

The Archives Cafe

Smiles from the bar..

It's a great place for a relax.

I am now in the warm and leathery foyer of the West Plaza Hotel in Street. The meeting with Lucy was not unlike that with Dmitri. Neither could speak English and neither understood the other.  It was quite strange as I liked the car a lot, we agreed on a price, just two hundred less than she was asking. But I am not  sure if she really understood me. Her boyfriend Chris, who speaks 'Engrish',will ring me on my mobile after five thirty she said, to confirm, but nothing has yet eventuated.

I'll be detached and see what turns out. The only problem seemed to be the oil light was alight on the dashboard and she said she hadn't had time to attend to it. I tried to get her mechanic's address,  she said somewhere off Taranaki St. but she didn't know his name or the name of the shop. However she did explain where he was and I'm quite sure I can find him. It is Wellington after all. 

What a bizarre series of events, leading me to think I am being prepared for some big experience, as both cars seemed excellent, the BMW $400 cheaper but dearer to run of course. But the experience in driving was totally different. This is a nice little dream come true, and next week I will own a BMW Sports Z3. Halleluja!

But first to the HU, and then to dance, trying to forget that it may have been a dream. I'm sure there will be some work to do on the baby, but not  immediately, and I will be using it so little. It will be my 69th birthday present to me. Can you see me sliding into to a low slung silver sports car motoring along the highway? I can.

PS Chris, the boyfriend just rang and said all is understood. He sounded just like a young simple Kiwi boy. I can have the car for $8 grand, with money sent to her a/c as soon as it arrives in my account. Done deal, but first a few phone calls to check on its background, to make sure it is all bona fide - she seems honest and even simple. The first call is to the dealer who sold her the car three years ago. He should give me some info. Then onto the mechanic to question him. If both of these are OK, then all is good. Photos in next blog.

Car buying...

Today is the day I start my seeing some cars. First off the block is the Suzuki at Porirua, with the Russian Dmitri, to discover. Jamie, coming over to pick up my poor scooter, very kindly takes me to the railway station and we have a nice chat on the way. It appears he was a wild young lad as I had formerly guessed. He tells me he'll buy back the scooter - at his price of course, but I just want to forget it.

I arrive at Porirua Station and D, very friendly and smiling, is there, with a nice soft red coloured car in perfect condition. He wants $8.5K and it has only 35,000 kms on the clock. It would be a good buy at $ 8.4 which he offers me, but is it legal? Where are the papers? I'll do an internet check and see what's happening. He is certainly a young Russian entrepreneur, importing cars from Japan and reselling them at a profit. But still it smells a bit, but perhaps I am paranoid he has to make a dollar.

In the meantime Chinese entrepreneur Lucy Liu has come up with an invitation to see her 2001 silver Sports BMW Z3, tomorrow at 4 pm. And it is cheaper at $8.2K. I am a little excited about this, as it would no doubt be legal, but is it a good buy, considering the on-road and repair costs? It has done 113k kms, but that, for a BMW, is not a great deal. I must say, I am sorely tempted, although the Suzuki is really a perfect choice.I have to consider I am only a weekend driver, and this BMW may well be just what I need for a little boost in self-esteem, and comfort to boot. It is just a more expensive car to run, but hey, it's only money!

Can't wait to drive it tomorrow and a lot will depend on how I find the redoubtable Lucy. It will need a full AA check-up before I make  a decision.

Trying out the famous cafe at Wellington Railway Station...

It is very good coffee too.

Kiwi All Black falls down stairs to his death...

...the Dominion Post patronisingly teaches a Maori word each day. Today it is cake...keke!

Pizza al Funghi e prosciutto

Losing my scooter is turning out to be a good thing as I am today ticking off two things to do on  Cuba St.... Cafe Ombra was one, and a pizza at Scopa is the other, so I am hoping it will be an OK experience. Really I  don't think much of house-made pizzas, homemade ones are always better, but I am skipping swimming and I can eat after Te Reo and then go to my first night at the WelMac club. This is my new 'assist-club' for Mac users, and I am hoping to learn something from them. The meeting room is happily right next to my Te Reo Maori class, on Willis St, in St. John's Church, in the Mckenzie Room. I think it will be an interesting experience to say the least. After all, I paid thirty dollars to join them so I should get something back, ay?

Just being in Cuba Street on Monday night is a first anyway, and it is a nice atmosphere. My Irish waitress knows me now from my hot chocolate fetish, and she welcomes me in and puts me at a single table at the back, warm and cosy in this cold night. I have time to blog and consider the changes in my life after a very happening weekend.  I told Ryan, my scooter mate from Te Reo, what had happened, and he was very sympathetic, but having just borrowed a friend's Yamaha motorcycle, he is rearing to go on two wheels, whereas I am rearing to get off them. I left my keys and papers at Ellmer's this afternoon as Jamie wasn't there. No doubt I'll get a call from him tomorrow about my misadventure.

The Maori class tonight was just as confusing as always, and we are missing next week's class with the Queen's  Birthday holiday on Monday. The following week is our third assessment and I hope I don't fail that one as I did the other two, not that one ever fails, but it does become obvious that I have not much of an idea of the language at all.

Monday night at Scopa...

Looking forward to a 'pizza experience'

I forgot to say in an earlier blog that I had an interesting encounter which will have future effects at the Te Papa Memorial. I met a neighbour of my very good friends Linda and Guy in Dargaville, north of Auckland. Nikkie was there commemorating the death of her younger brother Robin, from AIDS in 1990, and we met at the Film Archives and discovered our friends in common. Feeling a bit guilty that I hadn't contacted L and G since my arrival, I have now hopefully remedied that by emailing Linda with my news, and a few details about me she may not have known. Best to disclose early and find out how she is about being positive, as I know she is cool about most things but she did not know about me, nor about that. I await her reply with interest as I will have to visit them one day, perhaps when I buy my next car, the Suzuki?

Eh voila, le Pizza, much better than any I had in Bella Roma I must say. I could only eat half so the rest comes home with me!

Ombra Coffee

Well what a weekend!

I have decided to forget it and start all over again. The gale winds were stronger than any I have experienced before, and that's saying something.  They were so strong I was blown back off Evans Bay parade and had to return home, it was impossible to make it around Pt. Jermynstan on foot. I therefore had to miss the Glamaphones Concert which I wanted very much to hear. Oh well, things are tough when you have to miss a concert and I'll have to decide now what to do now.

A busy cafe Ombra...

So I am licking my wounds in Cafe Ombra, the last of the 'chic cafes' I haven't yet visited in Cuba St. And yes it is good, very good, even classy. Different to Scopa, but the same cool vibe, excellent service, and beautifully warm in this very chilly Wellington day. I just have a coffee and croissant, although it's three in the afternoon and I will probably regret it tonight.

Anyway, as well as the weather this weekend, my scooter was stolen, yet again. Abandoned a few metres up the road on Sunday morning. I was woken again by a policeman, this time a Maori, who alerted me of the position of my scooter on the road. So we descended to see what had happened and of course, the thief had tried to start it, couldn't get it going, so left it on the road, with the ignition broken. Again somewhat disappointed, but finally recognisant of the fact that I don't have the mentality of a scooter-owner in Wellington, or more to  the point, I am living in the wrong place to have a scooter left overnight on the road (I didn't have the chain on it of course!) So I have decided to get it back on the road and sell it. Jamie will no doubt sympathise with me, but my scooter days are over, and I am now looking for a four wheeler, a small car to satisfy those days when it is impossible to walk along Evans Bay parade. It will also be a lot warmer, and safer during the impending very cool winter months.

I have already located a lovely Suzuki Swift, a good choice I think, in Porirua, and I am going tomorrow to look at it, hopefully to bargain a little and get a reasonable price. The BMW sports car on offer was very attractive, and at similar price, but not so practical my friends tell me, with upkeep and petrol expenses being the paradigm for a sensible Japanese purchase. I have also never had a Suzuki so it will be a first, and possibly my last, but who knows, never say never!

Now after a warm coffee and lovely croissant I am off to to Te Reo which I have not studied at all, unfortunately.  But such is life, sometimes we are just taken over by circumstances and we go with the flow, the seventies mantra, ay? All will be OK and I am rather looking forward to being in a car again, I have been depriving myself of the pleasure for too long perhaps.

Another view of Ombra...

...its cute salt and pepper.

Our lovely teachers at Te Reo (left)

Planning Meeting for ECK

Today I participated in our Wellington ECK Planning for the rest of this year. Luckily because the weather was as  dirty as hell, flatmate F drove me to the venue on her way to the synagogue, or Temple, as she prefers to say. We then met later for lunch at Pranah in Newtown,  which was nice.

P.R. conducting the meeting

The ECK meeting went well and the lovely P.R., our Maori chief, conducted it with his usual decorum, tact, and even style, I may say, although he is such a modest man he would never accept that compliment.

We are planning a big launch launch of Ann Archer's popular book, and it will be a two day affair, some of it at the CQ Hotel. It is a bit pricy, but that's Wellington. As well I suggested the possibility of a Worship Service so Peter is going to do a survey of all the  ECKists to see how many would be interested. It would be great to get a regular WS going in Wellington as we desperately need one, so that is my aim for the coming year, to establish a WS and conduct them every two months.

After lunch at Pranah we collected my excellent wool rug from the Sallies at Newtown, also the chair which I bought for a steal. Now I'm quite ready for any new flatmate who needs a furnished room. 

On my return I discover an email from the Croatian. He has cold feet it appears, from too much Googling of NZ which has told him he can't afford it here. Well so be it, at least he has moved me to buy a lovely rug, now to decorate my French Salon. Which reminds me, I must start teaching French!

An artist at work at Pranah...

..and a typical lady who lunches alone in Newtown.

Saxaphones and Kilts

Today was a typical Wellington day, very busy, and very satisfying. A free concert appeared at St Andrews of eight young saxophonists who were quite excellent and a worthy offering at the altar of Art in a not so traditional church. Most enjoyable.

NZ School of Music  Saxophone Quartet

Standing for final Ovation in St Andrew's on The Terrace 

Then a vsit to BP to have more post-mortems, all good, and home to prepare supper for the Scottish dance on tonight. It was the 40th birthday bash so a few extras turned up and we had a good, if exhausting, dance. Always good fun. Will give me a good sleep tonight. A possible new housemate from Croatia emailed me a letter of interest. I am  hoping he comes good, an architect would just fine in our house. I must write to him again and let him know how special this house is. He would solve all my problems and I am  feeling very optimistic. 

Cutting the 40th Birthday Cake for Island Bay

Our humble supper

Hot Chocolate at Scopa

Tonight I am indulging in a sinful treat, as the Catholics amongst us who believe in sin would doubtless say, but for me it is a well earned warm beverage the like of which is unique in Cuba Street I am quite sure. The steaming cup is full of shiny dark milk chocolate, so thick it has to be spooned, and that is what I do. Its taste is not too sweet, nor is it too bitter, it is just right. Caffe Scopa is famous for it apparently, and now this is my second time sipping its delights, and certainly not my last. It may even become my Tuesday ritual before I go to Ti Whanawhana which is just up around the corner. A nice way to prepare myself for the fun of trying to keep up my Maori.  

After last night's debacle with my Te Reo course, I nearly decided, seriously, to give up on trying to learn to speak this crazy, difficult language. But I would feel as though I have failed the teachers, as they are SO nice, but they really have no idea how to teach a language, let alone their own, which is just anyone's guess. Perhaps I'll just coast along and see what happens. I would say ten students already have dropped out, but they were prepared for that. Another assessment next week, ugh!

This morning was an interesting one at home, tea with freshly baked orange cake for a new visitor, S. It turned out to be such a beautiful day that for the very first time I entertained a guest on the balcony in the warm sun which made the water shimmer on Evans Bay. It was quite spectacular and a good place for an in-depth chat, which believe me, needed the space of the outside. S is a very nice guy, a returned Kiwi  like so many, after an long and fruitful stint in the UK, back with a lot of mixed results but positive feelings about his return home. He left at 19 and returned at 38, spending half his life, effectively all his adult years to date, in the vibrant setting of artistic London, where he completed a Master's degree in Fine Arts. He is now working in a good position in a top Wellington Art Gallery. But what about the high life he left in London -  how does he readjust to the much quieter life of Wellington which is a village compared with London? That was the question we discussed, amongst many other things. As well he has returned to live with his ageing Mum, in of all places, Hutt. 

For those of you who don't know about Hutt, there is a certain onomatopoeic resonance which will give you an idea of its rather less than exciting nature. But of course, it is home, and that's where you go to lick your wounds, in this case, quite severe ones it seems. However living in what I consider to be the 'healthiest city in the world', I am sure he will come back to his full potential, and even achieve more that he ever dreamed he could have in the big UK. I look forward to watching his progress.

Waiter on fast return to get my steaming chocolate...

which arrives in a flash...

As fast as these cars going up Ghuznee Street

The Candlelight AIDS Memorial at Te Papa

Perhaps some will say it was a great success, and some will say it was too long, but either way, it wasn't my fault, even if my speech was longer than scheduled. The un-scheduled speeches made by the  Maori  local chief who obviously wanted to establish his superiority lasted a lot longer and were in  the Maori tongue which very few understood anyway. We went half an hour over time because of that.

However you will see from these pics that the beautiful Marae was full and the people were happy although it certainly could have been better in my humble opinion. 

In reality I think I may have made my first and only appearance at Te Papa, but it was worth it as many people came up to me later to say how much they had enjoyed my speech, including my Boston house-mate Fir.

So I think I can conclude that it was  a success, but only time will tell in the long term.

The crowd gathers...

A few supporters...

Two congratulated me..

With the Honourable Lady Mayor...

The WOSOSI choir..

Friday night in town...

I rushed into the city to post an airmail card to my friend A in Sydney, hoping for a six pm collection, but no luck, mail picked up at 4.30 so now it looks like A will receive her birthday card quite late as the mail here is abysmally slow, like five days airmail to arrive in Sydney, can you believe it, from one capital to another! FIVE days? It's only a three and a half hour flight! Anyway so be it, she will enjoy it when it eventually does arrive.

Today has been more of the same, final preps for learning my speech and having the regular  Friday Pot Luck lunch at BP. The Kaumatua from Auckland arrived today and was in fine spirits. It is he who leads the spiritual kick-off for the Candlelight Memorial on Sunday. Today he seemed extremely un-spiritual, I must say,  but hey, who am I to say!

Did some interesting shopping at my favourite Sallies and am continuing to prepare for the changing home state in a few weeks. The ad on Easyroommate is still not finalised but I hope when it is, it will work fast. A is rarely at home and I am more than happy about that as she has left a very bad taste in my mouth which I prefer to forget. There are more important things to think about than her insecurities.

After the HU song tonight I may even catch a movie at the Cuba Lighthouse, it seems like aeons since I was there. The only one on at the right time is a comedy with Robert Downey Jr called 'Chef', it may be a fizzer but it has a good cast. Woody Allen's 'Gigolo' movie does not appeal to me at all, in spite of its rave reviews. I have had enough of his comedy for a while, and he's always the same.

Am having a hot chocolate at the Film Archives where I am coming tomorrow for a final look at an AIDS movie about a famous Kiwi's demise with the lurghy. There is an enormous crowd of young people lining up for some movie and I should probably go to it, but it's the wrong time. There is certainly a strong film culture here with the younger generation, fuelled of course by the enormous success of the Hobbit series, and the local heroes Peter Jackson and Russell Crowe.

But I am off to Cuba Lighthouse for  'Chef'.

It was a small cameo by R.D. Jr, but the movie was a treatise on 'twitter'...amusing and the time went quite fast so it was worth it. John Favreau directed and starred, what a big talent there.

The Film Archives on Friday night.

..keen young women film makers?

The queue to Film Archives showing...

Counting down...

Am at the CQ Coffee shop on Cuba where I discover that in June there is a four day Jazz Festival with the likes of Chick Corea coming to this buzzing city. Prices are large but they do offer quite a few free sessions to which I will go, perhaps even late at night.

In the meantime I am hunkering down learning my new Maori lines I got at last night's Ti Whanawhana. Thank goodness I was asked to give them a hearing as I was then coached by the best of the best to deliver in authentic Maori-style what could have been a great Pakeha debacle. Now I have to practise to get my words off by heart. 

'Tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou, Katua!'

This I must say with mesmerising solemnity and to raise the skin of all who have the sensitivity to hear the words and their meaning. Ha ha ha! I am, I think, calling on the Maori Tribes from the four directions and then asking them to be present and bless the occasion of our gathering at Te Marae.

I am getting a little nervous especially as my housemate A has just announced, with some drama, that she is quitting our lovely home in a month's time. In a way I am relieved as I knew she was going in November, but I wasn't surprised as we were never very compatible. Hopefully by June 13, my Mum's birthday, I will have found someone new to enjoy our beautiful home on Evans Bay. I am now negotiating a new ad. at easyroomate.nz to find that person, also putting a hard copy ad. on the wall at the big local supermarket New World. The more exposure the better. 

I have quickly started to make plans for the new arrival, and last week with some premonition it seems, I replaced A's tiny TV screen with a new large Panasonic screen  bought on sale for a reasonable  price. It is now not embarrassing to call my 'salon de francais,' also a 'Movie Room' as well.

So tonight back to Scottish Dancing after many weeks away.  Hope I can still do it all. Then on to practise my story, not 'speech', to be delivered to each and every person who attends the Candlelight Memorial on Sunday at 3 pm. It should be a great occasion and I hope to help it be that.

Pain au chocolat on top of Joe Hockey...

The Aussies reeling from Treasurer Hockey's tight first Budget...

The excellent barista at CQ...

...serving me a perfect Pain au Chocolat